Russian, Syrian missiles pound Aleppo, destroy hospital: rebels and aid workers
Russian warplanes and their Syrian government allies battered rebel-held areas in and around Aleppo on October 1, and rebels and aid workers accused them of destroying one of the city's main hospitals and killing at least two patients.
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| A man walks on the rubble of damaged buildings after an airstrike on the rebel held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail |
October 1's air strikes focused on major supply lines into rebel-held areas of Aleppo - the Castello Road and Malah district and around the Handarat camp.
Fighting also raged in the city in the Suleiman al Halabi neighborhood, the front line to the north of Aleppo's Old City and in the residential Bustan al Basha quarter.
Rebels and rescuers said at least seven missiles were dropped on the hospital, more commonly known as Sakhour, by both Russian jets and Syrian helicopters.
An American relief organization said two patients were killed and 13 injured in the attack, which was the second on the hospital in less than a week.
"The hospital is now out of service completely. There's destruction to walls, infrastructure, equipment and generators. There are no more guards or staff left. It's complete darkness," said Mohammad Abu Rajab, a radiologist in the hospital.
Footage of the bombed hospital on social media showed extensive damage.
The attack drew immediate condemnation from France and Germany. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the shelling of healthcare structures and personnel in Aleppo amounted to war crimes, adding: "Their perpetrators will be held to account."
"The bombing of Aleppo needs to finally stop! Whoever wants to fight terrorists does not attack hospitals!" German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier tweeted.
Hundreds of people have been killed in indiscriminate bombing of residential areas and many hundreds more wounded, with little access to treatment in hospitals that lack basic supplies.
